help to check secure wireless

joe134

Hi, Trying to find out if my wireless network is secure. How do I check if my router is secure. When I click on connct to, my neighbours all say security enabled network, mine just says connected. AOL configured the router for me when I changed to new speedtouch.gave me new username and password, so I presume I am secure, just want to check.I have had Phishing e-mail for new bank a/c details, just set up. Just chance or is network unsecure? checked all a/v. malwarebytes, spybot, nothing.any assistance appreciated

DCFC79

The reason why it says connected when you go to connec to is because its telling you your conencted to your router, 1 way to check would be to ask a neighbour to try to access the router(as a test) and see if he can connect but it would ask for a password etc to allow him to connect. You could just login(use an ethernet cable to do this) in to the router and change the router, what make of router is it ?

cooltt

It's already preconfigured with security. If you wish to check right click on network icon and choose disconnect from your network then choose search for networks, you one will show as security enabled then just choose connect and type the password.

joe134

DCFC79 wrote: »

The reason why it says connected when you go to connec to is because its telling you your conencted to your router, 1 way to check would be to ask a neighbour to try to access the router(as a test) and see if he can connect but it would ask for a password etc to allow him to connect. You could just login(use an ethernet cable to do this) in to the router and change the router, what make of router is it ?

Hi, Thanks, it,s a speedtouch, aol reconfigured it a few weeks ago, gave me new username and password. My grandaughter tried to piggyback last week with her new ipod, she couldn,t even though I gave her my new password, which it asked for.I have got WPA in security, TKIP. in encryption and 8 digit (asteriked) password in security key. I have inadvertently put this on 2 threads for which I appologise.I will try the ethernet way and type my password in.What concerned me most, it said Public network:on my router.Thanks to all of you again, best forum on web.

DCFC79

joe134 wrote: »

Hi, Thanks, it,s a speedtouch, aol reconfigured it a few weeks ago, gave me new username and password. My grandaughter tried to piggyback last week with her new ipod, she couldn,t even though I gave her my new password, which it asked for.I have got WPA in security, TKIP. in encryption and 8 digit (asteriked) password in security key. I have inadvertently put this on 2 threads for which I appologise.I will try the ethernet way and type my password in.What concerned me most, it said Public network:on my router.Thanks to all of you again, best forum on web.

when trying to access the router to change the passphrase it is recommended to use wired means just to prevent an outside person form seeing what your router login details are etc, the passpharse must be entered as its been set as eg if its lower case then lower case it has to be to access the network

espresso

joe134 wrote: »

Hi, Thanks, it,s a speedtouch, aol reconfigured it a few weeks ago, gave me new username and password. My grandaughter tried to piggyback last week with her new ipod, she couldn,t even though I gave her my new password, which it asked for.I have got WPA in security, TKIP. in encryption and 8 digit (asteriked) password in security key. I have inadvertently put this on 2 threads for which I appologise.I will try the ethernet way and type my password in.What concerned me most, it said Public network:on my router.Thanks to all of you again, best forum on web.

It would be helpful if you deleted your posts from the other thread as they just confuse an already confused thread! (Simply click Edit then Delete)

Regarding your encryption, if you copy and paste an long (63 chars) random passprase from here to a notepad file and then copy this into your router WPA-TKIP field or WPA2 if you have it and then also into any device that you wish to be able to connect, you should be quite secure. The eight asterisks simply represent a password and the number of asterisk is not significant.

joe134

espresso wrote: »

It would be helpful if you deleted your posts from the other thread as they just confuse an already confused thread! (Simply click Edit then Delete)

Regarding your encryption, if you copy and paste an long (63 chars) random passprase from here to a notepad file and then copy this into your router WPA-TKIP field or WPA2 if you have it and then also into any device that you wish to be able to connect, you should be quite secure. The eight asterisks simply represent a password and the number of asterisk is not significant.

Hi, thanks again, will delete.I am a bit confused as to whether my router is or is not encrypted.I just phoned and followed AOL,s instructions to configure my router, they talked me though it, gave me a username and password. BUT, is that encrypting my router or not? I have never had to enter a long random passphrase to my knowledge, so I do not know if my router is safe.The username was my phone [EMAIL="number@dialbb,com"]number@dialbb,com[/EMAIL]. + an 8 random p/word.I tried yesterday to change the drop down menu in the security box, lost connection, so reset to wpa/tkip and back online. Forgive me for being thick but alienerik seems to think aol routers come encrypted,I just want to know if mine is or is not secure? When you are not techie minded , you tend to get confused by the info given.If AOL have encrypted it , I don,t want to upset the settings if I am secure, they just say I am safe?Sorry if I have confused anyone, appreciate your help, all of you

joe134

cooltt wrote: »

It's already preconfigured with security. If you wish to check right click on network icon and choose disconnect from your network then choose search for networks, you one will show as security enabled then just choose connect and type the password.

Hi, If as you say it is preconfigured, I had Aol reconfigure it because I lost my connection. Is configure and encrypt the same thing? If I diconnect, the only password I have is what Aol gave me, not one I have chosen or tried to set up.

espresso

joe134 wrote: »

Hi, thanks again, will delete.I am a bit confused as to whether my router is or is not encrypted.I just phoned and followed AOL,s instructions to configure my router, they talked me though it, gave me a username and password. BUT, is that encrypting my router or not? I have never had to enter a long random passphrase to my knowledge, so I do not know if my router is safe.The username was my phone number@dialbb,com. + an 8 random p/word.I tried yesterday to change the drop down menu in the security box, lost connection, so reset to wpa/tkip and back online. Forgive me for being thick but alienerik seems to think aol routers come encrypted,I just want to know if mine is or is not secure? When you are not techie minded , you tend to get confused by the info given.If AOL have encrypted it , I don,t want to upset the settings if I am secure, they just say I am safe?Sorry if I have confused anyone, appreciate your help, all of you

You are describing your ADSL username/password which needs to be entered into the router to authenticate to AOL. Your wireless WPA-TKIP passphrase is entirely different and I would advise that you use a long random passprase as described in post #6. It's easy to set up wireless encryption and you should set it up with a good long random key rather than a simple short dictionary word for maximum security.

joe134

espresso wrote: »

You are describing your ADSL username/password which needs to be entered into the router to authenticate to AOL. Your wireless WPA-TKIP passphrase is entirely different and I would advise that you use a long random passprase as described in post #6. It's easy to set up wireless encryption and you should set it up with a good long random key rather than a simple short dictionary word for maximum security.

Hi espresso, thanks yet again, as I say , I am not too techie, How do I get into the router to do as you say? without upsetting my status.How do I find out if it is already encrypted because I have not done it, if it is then I don,t know what it,s encrypted with.It,s a speedtouch, would you kindly give me instuctions from start to finish how easy it is, I don,t even know where to start?thanks

bluboy

joe134 wrote: »

...When I click on connct to, my neighbours all say security enabled network, mine just says connected...

Not sure which OS your using but -

To check your security

In XP
Go to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections
Right click on your Wireless connection and select 'Properties'
Select the 'Wireless Networks' tab at the top
In the 'Preferred Networks' list select yor Network name and click 'Properties'.
You should now see details of your connection and any security enabled.

In Vista
Click Start (Orb!) > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Centre
Next to your Wireless Network Connection click 'View Status'
In the window that opens click on 'Wireless Properties'
Click the 'Security' tab and you ou should now see details of any security enabled